Manual and automatic releasable lock



May 9, 1961 R. J. LYONS MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE LOCK Filed Jan. 30

I ,f/O

INVENTOR.

ATTUKNEYJ 2,983,343 MANUAL AND AUTOMATIC RELEASABLE LOCK Robert J. Lyons, Hamden, Conn. (37 Water St., West Haven, Conn.)

Filed Jan. 30, 1959, Ser. No. 790,096

8 Claims. (Cl. 189-50) 'I'he present invention relates to a lock utilizable with a movable cover for retaining closed and releasing for opening the cover and more particularly to a lock for the cover which enables the cover to be manually or automatically opened.

The lock of the present invention has particular utility when used with a cover which closes an opening in a building, such as a roof hatchway. The cover ispivotally secured to a casing that frames the opening and includes handles for manual operation of the lock and hence :enables manual opening and closing of the cover. While manual operation of the cover is sutlicient unto itself in a plurality of instances, it is now being generally required that roof hatchways, particularly those in factories, be capable of being automatically opened whenever the temperature within the building reaches a predetermined level. This may occur when fire or other heat producing hazards are present and the opening of roof hatchways permits the escape of gases, names, etc., thereby preventing explosions and limiting the fire.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide `a lock -for fastening a cover which enables manual operation of the cover and yet which also provides for `automatically releasing thelocked cover Whenever a predetermined temperature is reached.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lock of the above type which is simple in construction, which may be easily incorporated into presently being manufactured roof covers and which provides substantially no obstruction in the opening closed by the cover.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lock which achieves the above-recited objects and which is economical to manufacture and eifective and foolproof in operation. l

In carrying out the above objects, the lock of the present invention is shownin combination with a roof hat'chway cover. The roof hatchway includes a casing that frames an opening in the roof and the cover is pivotally secured on one side thereof for movement between an opened and a closed position. There is also provided means for normally biasing the cover into open position such as` compressed springs extending between the cover and casing. The cover has secured thereto a pant of the lock ofthe present invention which has an extendible and re tractible latch and handles on either side of the cover for enabling manually releasing and closing of the lock.

Secured to the casing for cooperation with the latch, is a catch which 'constitutes the other part of the lock, that has `a portion protrudinginto the opening in the casing for engagement with the extended latch to retain it `when it is desired to lock the cover. The catch, however, rather than being immovably fastened to the casing is, according to the instant invention, pivotally mounted on the casing for movement between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position. The latch retaining position of the catch permits manual operation of the lock-while the `latch releasing position automatically releases the latch from being held by the catch. The

rates Patent@ r'ice catch is normally held in its latch retaining position by a connection to the casing that includes a temperature responsive link and upon thelink being discontinued, by the temperature approaching a predetermined level such as the connection is broken and the catch is able to move to its latch releasing position. This causes the cover to be automatically opened by the springs which normally bias it to an open position.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a section View of .a cover and casing shown mounted in an opening in a building and including the lock of the present invention. Y

Fig. 2 is a section of a detail of the lock shown in the locked position. K

Fig. 3 is a detail similar to Fig. 2 only showing the lock in its automatically latch releasing position.

Referring to the drawing, the cover of the present invention is general-ly indicated by the reference numeral 10 and is pivotally mounted as by a hinge 11 on a side 12 of a casing 13. The shape of an opening 14 in a side or roof 1S of a building determines the shape of the cover and the casing and it is generally rectangular. Thek cover is normally made of metal and hence is heavy and diilicult tofoperate from below and to counterbalance it, there is providedat leas-t one compression spring 16 which is enclosed in a telescoping cylinder 17. One end of the cylinder is pivotally mounted to a ange 13 secured tothe cover, while its other end rests on a support 19 secured to the casing. It will be appreciated that the spring 16 normally biases 'the cover to an open position and its compression may be Iadjusted to effect the desired degree of counterbalance. There is also provided a handlebar 2.0 operating in a slot 21 secured to the cover for facilitating closing of the cover.

-As shown in Fig. 1, the cover 10 is pivotally movable between the solid line position in which it is closed and locked and its open position indicated bythe dotted lines.

Referring to Figs. 2 vand 3, the cover 10 is provided with a lock 22, according to the present invention, which has 'a -latch 23 that is mounted for reciprocal movement between an extended locking position and a retracted, unlocking position in which the latch is substantially within the confines of a lock container 24. Rotatable handles 25 and 26 are provided, one on the outside and one on the inside of the cover, respectively, which upon rotation move the latch 23 from its extended position to its retracted releasing position thereby venabling manual operation of the lock. There is additionally provided on the outside of the cover a pair of padlock hasps 27, one being secured to the outside handle and the other to the cover for enabling exterior locking ofthe handle. Since the mechanism by which the handles operate the cover in the container 24 is well known, a detailed explanation is considered unnecessary and hence is omitted.

The latch cooperates with a catch 2S secured to the casing 13. The catch in the specific embodiment shown comprises la flat piece of metal having an end portion 29 protruding beyond a side 30 of the casing which is engageable with the latch when the latch is in its extended position and the cover is closed. The other end portion of the catch is pivotally mounted to the casing as by being reversely bent to cooperate with a pin 32 and a reversely bent end portion of a plate 33 similar to the Way in which the legs of hinges are pivotally connected. While the plate 33 may be secured to the side of the casing by welding, it is shown in the present embodiment as being secured by a threaded bolt.

The catch 28 is pivotally movable from the position shown in Fig. 2 which is its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position shown in `Fig. 3. To maintain the catch in latch retaining position, which is its normal position and which permits manual operation of the lock, there is provided a connection 34 comprising a length of wire 35 in which is tied in a link 36 having a fusible portion 37. One end 38 of the connection is secured to an eye 39 that is welded or otherwise secured to the side of the casing substantially below the catch and the other end 40 of the connection 34 is secured to the catch as by passing it through a hole in the catch and tying the end as indicated by the reference numeral 41. ItI will be appreciated that so long as the fusible link 36 remains unbroken the catch will be maintained in its latching position and the cover may be manually operated.

Whenever the temperature of the building reaches the predetermined temperature which melts the fusible portion 37 of the link, the link becomes discontinuous, as shown in Fig. 3, breaking the connection and enabling the catch to move to its latch releasing position. The spring 16 which normally biases the cover to its open position will upon discontinuity of the link, cause the cover to move to its open position and since the catch is thus freely pivotable to its latch releasing position, there is no obstruction to the movement of the cover by the catch. It will moreover be appreciated that even though the handles are locked in position, as by a use off the padlock hasps 27, the cover will vstill open upon breaking of the fusible link since releasing of the lock is dependent on the catch and not the latch.

Upon breaking of the fusible link, a new fusible link may be easily inserted into the connection simply by untying and then retying the wire to the link. Moreover, while a link is shown that separates upon the temperature reaching the predetermined level, a type of link which enables the connection to lengthen upon the temperature being reached may also be employed.

It will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosed a cover for an opening in a casing that may be positioned in an opening in a wall or roof and in which the cover may be either manually or automatically released to be opened. This is effected by having a manually operable latch on the cover which cooperates with an automatically releasable catch on the casing. The catch is normally maintained in latch retaining position; however upon the temperature reaching the predetermined level which effects automatic opening of the cover, the catch is released. The cover may then move to its open position under the tension produced by springs that tend to force the cover open.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

l. In combination with a cover mounted on a casing and movable to open and close the opening in the casing, a latch secured v-to the cover and manually operable from a closed position to an open position, the improvement comprising a catch having a portion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position and movable between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position and means for normally securing the catch in latch retaining position whereby, the catch and latch may be normally manually operated to lock and unlock the cover and in which the means includes a temperature responsive element which when actuated sets free the catch and enables it to move from its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked.

2. In combination with a cover mounted on a casing and movable to open and close the opening in the casing, a latch secured to the cover and manually operable from a closed position to an open position, the improvement comprising a catch having a portion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position, means securing the catch on the casing for movement between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position, and means for normally maintaining the catch in latch retaining position whereby the latch may be normally manually operated to release and llock the cover and in which the maintaining means includes a ternperature responsive element which when actuated sets free the catch and enables it to move from its latch retainingposition to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked.

3. `In combination with a cover pivotally mounted on one side of a casing to open and close the opening in the casing, a latch secured to the cover and manually operable from a closed position to an open position, the improvement comprising a catch having a portion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position, means pivotally mounting the catch on the casing for Vpivotal movement between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position and means for normally maintaining the catch in latch retaining position whereby the catch and latch may be normally manually operated to release and lock the cover and in which the means includes a connection having'a temperature responsive link secured between the catch and the casing and which when actuated by discontinuity of the link breaks the connection between the catch and casing setting free the catch to enable it to move from its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked.

4. In combination with a cover pivotally mounted on one side of a casing to open and close the opening in the casing, means for normally biasing the cover to open position and a latch secured to the cover adjacent a side edge thereof and manually operable from a closed position to an open position, the improvement comprising a catch having a portion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position, means securing the catch on the casing for movement between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position with the portion protruding from a side of the casing into the opening, and means for normally maintaining the catch in latch retaining position whereby the catch and latch may be normally manually operated to release and lock the cover and in which the means includes a connection having la temperature yresponsive link secured between the catch andthe side of the casing which when actuated by discontinuity of the link breaks the connection between the catch and casing setting free the catch to enable it to move from its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked and-opened.

5. A lock for an openable cover of a casing comprising a latch secured to the cover and manually operable by a handle between an extended locking position and a retracted releasing position, a catch having a portion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position and movable between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position, and means for normally securing the catch in latch retaining position whereby the catch and latch may be normally manually operated to lock and unlock the cover and in which the means includes a temperature responsive element which when actuated sets free the `catch and enables it to move from its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked.

6. A lock for an openable cover of a casing comprising a 'latch secured to the cover and manually operable by a handle between an extended locknig position and a retracted releasing position, a catch having a pontion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position, means securing the catch on the casing for movement between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position, and means for normally maintaining the catch in latch retaining position whereby the latch may be normally manually operated to release and lock the cover and in which the maintaining means includes `a temperature responsive element which when actuated sets free the catch and enables it to move lil-om its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked.

7. A lock for an openable cover of a casing compris ing a latch secured to the cover and manually operable by a handle between Aan extended locking position and a retracted releasing position, a catch having a pontion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are at their closed position, means pivotally mounting the catch on the casing for pivotal movement between a latch retaining position )and a latch releasing position, and means for normally maintaining the catch in latch retaining position whereby the catch and latch may be normally manually operated to release and lock ythe cover yand in which the means includes a connection having a temperature responsive link secured between the catch land the casing and which when actuated by discontinuity of the link breaks the connection between the catch and casing setting free the catch to enable it to move from its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked.

8. A lock for an openable cover of a casing that is normally biased to open position comprising a latch secured to the cover and manually operable by a handle between an extended locking position and a retracted releasing position, a catch having a portion engaging the latch when the latch and cover are yat their closed position, means securing the catch on the casing for movement between a latch retaining position and a latch releasing position with the portion protruding from a side of the casing into the opening, and means for normally maintaining the catch in latch retaining position whereby the catch and latch may be normally manually operated to release and lock the cover and in which the means in cludes a connection having -a tempeartuire responsive link secured between the catch and the side of the casing which when actuated by discontinuity of the link breaks the connection between the catch and casing setting free the catch to enable it to move from its latch retaining position to its latch releasing position, whereby the cover is automatically unlocked and opened.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,049 Busse Aug. 27, 1895 2,533,396 Payne Dec. 12, 1950 2,827,003 Stetson Mar. 18, 1958 

